The Oprah Winfrey South Africa Leadership Program  visits Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pilanesburg, and Cape Town, South Africa

On May 19, 2024, nine Oprah Winfrey scholars embarked on the 12-day South Africa Leadership Program! This transformative study abroad experience included visits to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pilanesburg, and Cape Town, South Africa. The experience was highlighted by the opportunity to serve as official observers of South Africa's presidential election, held 30 years after the election of Nelson Mandela. Scholars observed election processes at multiple sites and shared feedback with election officials. Observation of South Africa's democratic elections became an opportunity to juxtapose this process in South Africa and the United States and generated fruitful discussions about the importance of and threats to democracy worldwide.

Program activities included meetings with community leaders and university and other academic officials, faculty, and students. University visits included the University of Pretoria, the University of the Western Cape, and the University of South Africa. Engaging and informative visits to the Mandela Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation allowed scholars to explore these great leaders' lives, accomplishments, challenges, and leadership philosophies.

Visits to historic sites and organizations documenting the history of Apartheid and preserving the legacy of the fight for freedom and justice in South Africa included the Apartheid Museum, the Hector Pieterson Museum, Mandela House, and Robben Island Prison. Scholars experienced Cape Town's Iziko Slave Lodge to learn about the roles of enslaved peoples in building South Africa that set the stage for Apartheid.
A day of service at the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) was a highlight of the program, allowing scholars to make a tangible difference in the community. They tutored, painted community members' homes, served food, and played soccer with the children. This powerful experience has sparked ongoing discussions among the scholars about how Morehouse can continue to support and engage with the KYP, demonstrating their commitment to service and community engagement.

Scholars appreciated the opportunity to enjoy South Africa's natural beauty through excursions to Pilanesberg National Park, Table Mountain, and the Cape of Good Hope.

Throughout the experience, scholars responded to prompts, providing written reflections on their experiences and knowledge gained. Evening meetings allowed scholars to discuss the history, politics, and culture of South Africa and explore and compare social justice issues and democracy in the United States and South Africa.